Mixing apparatus



Jan. 10, 1967 R. E. ADAMS 3,297,309

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1964 V 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGZ INVENTOR.

B ROBERT E. ADAMS ATTORNEY Y M M Jan. 10, 1967 R. E. ADAMS 3,297,309

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w INVENTOR. ROBERTE. ADAMS BY law/WW}.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1967 3,297,309 MIXING APPARATUS Robert E.Adams, Hudson, N.Y., assignor to Giiford- Wood, Inc., Newton, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 407,403 3Claims. (Cl. 259115) This invention relates to a mixing apparatus of atype which may be utilized to prepare whole fresh milk from a mixture ofwater, skim milk powder and whole creamery butter. The invention mayalso be used for other mixing operations in the dairy industry andelsewhere.

An object of the invention is to provide a mixing apparatus ofsimplified, economical and compact construction which is easy toassemble and disassemble, sanitary and highly efficient in operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mixing headincluding rotor and stator components which are detachably connectedwithout the use of screwthreads, thereby rendering the design much moresanitary than conventional prior art mixers.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improvedturbine and coacting stator ring which is substantially open at the topand bottom and constructed in such a manner that a definite shearingaction is obtained in liquids with minimum aeration and bubbling whilemaximum dispersion of solids is obtained to the point of homogenizationas in the case of whole milk.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a high speed mixerof the mentioned type whose main bearings are mounted in a one-piecehousing well above the mixing vessel, such as a standard milk can.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mixing apparatus embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus partly in centralvertical section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through themain bearing of the mixer and associated elements;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a similar section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through themixing head of the apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates asuitable electric motor having a depending armature or output shaft 11,coupled by a two-part coupling 12 to the upper reduced end 13 of a mixeror turbine shaft 14. A mounting plate 15 of the motor 10 is bolted at 16to a mating flange 17 of an adapter or support 18 having a lowermounting flange 19, in turn bolted at 20 to a top flange 21 of a tubularbearing housing 22.

The housing 22 which forms a feature of the invention contains axiallyspaced ball bearings 23 and 24, receiving shoulder portions 25 and 26 ofshaft 14, as best shown in FIGURE 3. A spacer tube 27 is interposedbetween the two ball bearings. The upper bearing 23 has its outer raceseated upon a shoulder 28 formed in the bore of housing 22. A threadedportion 29 of shaft 14 immediately above the upper bearing 23 receives anut 30, from which the shaft 14 is suspended through the bearing 23.Immediately above the nut 30, a shaft seal 31 is contained within aretainer 32, secured at 33 to the top of housing 22. The retainer 32encloses the seal 31 and retains the upper ball bearing 23 as shown inFIGURE 3. A second seal for the shaft 14 designated by the numeral 34 iscontained within the bore of housing 22 immediately below the lowerbearing 24.

The apparatus further comprises an elongated stator tube 35 having a topcoupling head 36 rigidly secured to its upper end by soldering or thelike. As shown in FIGURE 3, the coupling head 36 mates with a lower head37 of stationary bearing housing 22. The stator tube 35 is secureddetachably to the lower end of housing 22 by a quick release clamp 38shaped in cross section to embrace the heads 36 and 37. Thus, the statortube and all parts associated therewith may be quickly disengaged fromthe upper power assembly which includes the bearing housing 22.

Adjustably mounted upon the stator tube 35 is a generally semi-circularmain support plate 39 formed in two companion sections 40 having a splithub 41 which is clamped securely to the tube 35 by bolts 42. Theassembled support plate 39 is releasably clamped on the tube 35 at anydesired elevation with respect to the bottom of the stator tube,depending upon the depth of a milk can 43 or the like upon which theentire apparatus rests. That is to say, the properly adjusted supportplate 39, FIGURE 2, rests directly on top of the mouth 44 of can 43 tobodily support the mixer apparatus in a vertical position. The supportplate 39 has preferably three spaced locator lugs 45 thereon to guidethe apparatus into proper engagement with the can mouth and to maintainthe apparatus properly centered. The plate '39 has a forward largerecess 46 formed therein to allow a major portion of the can mouth 44 tobe unobstructed so that the necessary liquid and solid ingredients to bemixed may be introduced into the can 43 while the apparatus is in placethereon. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the axis of the mixing shaft 14 andsurrounding stator tube 35 is offset or to one side of the center of thecan 43 during use.

As shown clearly in FIGURE 6, the lower end of stator tube 35 carries anenlarged stator ring 47 suitably rigidly secured thereto and extendingradially therefrom in surrounding relation. The stator ring 47 isessentially open vertically and has a large lower cavity 48 forming achamber for a rotor or turbine 49 to be further described. The upperportion of the ring 47 immediately above chamber 48 has a plurality ofclosely spaced openings 50 formed therethrough with solid wall portionstherebetween as depicted in FIGURE 1.

The rotor 49 has a tubular hub 5-1 engaging freely rotatably in thelower end of tube 35 and this hub has quick release bayonet-type slots52 formed therein on opposite sides of the hub and opening through thetop of the hub. The hub 51 engages over a reduced bot tom extension 53of mixing shaft 14 with the top of the hub abutting an annular shoulder54 of the shaft. The shaft extension 53 carries a cross pin 55projecting from opposite sides thereof and engageable within the bayonetslot 52 as shown in FIGURE 6 so that quick separation and assembly ofthe rotor 49 and shaft 14 may be effected.

The rotor or turbine 49 further comprises within the chamber 48, FIGURE6, a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced blades 56integral with the hub 51. These blades, preferably four in number, arecontoured to fit closely within the confines of stator ring chamber 48.The upper inclined edges of blades 56 have a liquid shearing actionduring rotation with the bottoms of openings 50. The individual blades56 are generally radial but offset bodily from the rotational axis ofthe rotor.

The blades are all slanted somewhat from the true vertical and theirlower edges are perpendicular to the main rotational axis of the rotor.The blades 56 are thus skewed and are a compromise between straightcentrifugal-type blades and a true helical type. The rotor 49 per seforms the subject matter of a separate patent application and need notbe described further herein.

The stator tube 35 preferably has drain openings 57 slightly above therotor 49 and also has a thin fiat ci-rcular deflector plate 58 near andabove its lower end, tending to arrest the upward flow of liquid fromthe openings 50 and reduce turbulence within the can 43, bubbling, etc,

In operation, the proper ingredients, such as water, powdered skim milkand whole creamery butter are introduced in the proper proportions intothe can 43 and the apparatus is set into motion by starting the electricmotor 10. The mixing shaft 14 is directly driven by the motor togetherwith the turbine 49. The stator tube 35 and associated parts bydefinition are stationary.

The rotor or turbine 49 revolves at a speed in the vicinity of 10,000rpm. inside of the ring 47. The turbine produces a very high degree ofmixing or dispersing of the solid ingredients within the liquid in thecan 43. The sharp lower edges of the blades 56 produce a pronouncedshearing action in the mixture and the slanting of the blades also tendsto pump the liquid upwardly through the openings 50 where the liquid isfurther sheared while passing through these openings at high velocity. Athorough mixing is accomplished with this mixing head shown particularlyin FIGURE 6 with minimum aeration, as is particularly desirable in thecase of milk.

As explained previously, the turbine 49 is quickly detachable from theshaft 14 and the tube 35 is quickly detachable from the upper bearinghousing 22. This aids substantially in sterilizing operations,convenience and utility.

It is thought that the advantages of the construction should now befully apparent to those skilled in the art without the necessity for afurther description herein.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A mixing apparatus comprising in combination an elongated stator tubehaving an enlarged stator ring on its lower end, a mixing shaftextending rotatably through the stator tube, a bladed mixing rotor onthe lower end of said shaft rotating within the confines of said ring,an adjustable mounting plate clampingly secured to the stator tube, anenlarged head on the upper end of the stator tube, a bearing housingextending above the stator tube and having a head at its lower endabutting said head of the stator tube, quick release clamping meansholding said heads detachably in abutting relation, said mixing shaftextending through said bearing housing and above said head, a pair ofspaced ball bearings supporting said mixing shaft within the bearinghousing, and motor means on the bearing housing and coupled to themixing shaft near and above the bearing housing.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and a pair of shaft seals forthe mixing shaft within said housing adjacent said bearings.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, and a deflector plate on thestator tube near and above said stator ring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,206,266 7/1940Schmidt 25996 2,787,449 4/ 1957 McElroy 259 2,801,083 7/1957 Balassa2598 2,963,281 12/1960 Reitfen 25996 X 3,135,500 6/1964 Perrinjaquet259-435 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,325,785 3/1963 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Examiner.

1. A MIXING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN ELONGATED STATOR TUBEHAVING AN ENLARGED STATOR RING ON ITS LOWER END, A MIXING SHAFTEXTENDING ROTATABLY THROUGH THE STATOR TUBE, A BLADED MIXING ROTOR ONTHE LOWER END OF SAID SHAFT ROTATING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID RING,AN ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING PLATE CLAMPINGLY SECURED TO THE STATOR TUBE, ANENLARGED HEAD ON THE UPPER END OF THE STATOR TUBE, A BEARING HOUSINGEXTENDING ABOVE THE STATOR TUBE AND HAVING A HEAD AT ITS LOWER ENDABUTTING SAID HEAD OF THE STATOR TUBE, QUICK RELEASE CLAMPING MEANSHOLDING SAID HEADS DETACHABLY IN ABUTTING RELATION, SAID MIXING SHAFTEXTENDING THROUGH SAID BEARING HOUSING AND ABOVE SAID HEAD, A PAIR OFSPACED BALL BEARINGS SUPPORTING SAID MIXING SHAFT WITHIN THE BEARINGHOUSING, AND MOTOR MEANS ON THE BEARING HOUSING AND COUPLED TO THEMIXING SHAFT NEAR AND ABOVE THE BEARING HOUSING.